"Students gathered by Sao Paulo's city hall on Wednesday to protest against the increase in Brazil's public transport fares. Footage shows demonstrators chanting outside Matarazzo Building while carrying signs reading, 'against privatisations' and 'free pass for everyone.' Police officers can be seen monitoring the crowd, as some protesters set trash bags on fire. "We are here demanding unrestricted free passes for all students, but also that we have better conditions in Sao Paulo public transport," explained Julia, a protester. Pointing to the capital's overcrowded trains and buses, she warned that the current state of transit 'puts the working-class's lives at risk.' Meanwhile, Gabriel, another demonstrator, insisted that transportation is more than a utility - it is 'an instrument of dignity.' "Much more than that, it needs to be an instrument to democratise access to the city, so that young people can access culture, sports, leisure and learn more about the beauties of the city and the state of Sao Paulo," he added. Since January 6, public transport fares have climbed across several Brazilian cities. In São Paulo, rail and metro tickets rose from R$ 5.20 to R$ 5.40, while municipal bus fares saw an increase from R$ 5.00 to R$ 5.30. According to officials, the adjusted fares reflect annual inflation and rising operational costs."